Organic Acids Supplementation in the Diets and Performance of Broiler Chicken

Abstract

The experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of organic acid supplementation on performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass traits and economics of feeding in broiler chicken. One hundred ninety eight, one day old chicks were randomly divided into 11 dietary treatments, each treatment consisted of 3 replicates with 6 chicks each. Broilers were fed with standard diet to meet the nutrient requirements. In treatment T1, broilers were fed standard diet without any organic acid supplementation. In treatments T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 different organic acids viz. acetate, sorbate, propionate, butyrate and lactate were supplemented @ 2% of the diet, respectively. While, in diets T7 to T11 same organic acids were supplemented @ 3% of the diet. Results indicated higher (P<0.05) performance in terms of body weight gain and feed efficiency ratio in treatment T8. Feed intake was similar in all the treatments. The retention of DM, CP and GE improved on supplementation of organic acids (@ 3% of the diet and the highest (P<0.05) retention of protein was observed in broilers assigned diet supplemented with calcium sorbate @ 3% of the diet. Supplementation of organic acids did not affect carcass characteristics of the broilers. The lowest (P<0.05) feed cost/kg body weight gain was observed in broilers fed diet supplemented with calcium sorbate @ 3% of the diet. Therefore, calcium sorbate @ 3% could be supplemented in the diet of broilers to support better growth, nutrient utilization and economics of broiler production.